Method and compositions for treatment of fungal nail disease

Abstract

Compositions for the treatment of fungal nail disease (onychomycosis), including camphor, menthol, eucalyptus and thymol are described. The ingredients are natural and very effective in treating the nail fungus.

We claim:  
     
       1. A composition for inhibiting dermatophytes in an infected nail in humans which consists of camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil, and thymol in a topical carrier which is absorbed by the nail and skin and is not a grease or jelly, wherein the composition has a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC 100 ) of at least 750 μg/ml of the topical carrier against Acremonium chrysogenum, A. strictum, Aspergillus flavus,  A. terreus, Candida albicans, C. kruseii, C. parapsilosis, Epidermophyton floccosum, Fulsarium oxysporum, F. proliferatum, Microsporum canis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Scytalidium dimidiatum, S. hyalinum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes , and  T. rubrum.    
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the eucalyptus oil is from  Eucalyptus citriodora.    
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, isoamyl acetate, acetone, ethyl acetate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is an ester of an alcohol. 
     
     
       5. A kit for the treatment of a nail infection caused by a dermatophyte which comprises: 
       (a) a closed openable container containing a composition which consists of an effective amount of a mixture of camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil and thymol in a topical carrier for the mixture, wherein the carrier is absorbed by the nail and skin and is not a grease or jelly, and wherein the dermatophytes which are inhibited by the composition are  Acremonium chrysogenum, A. strictum, Aspergillus flavus, A. terreus, Candida albicans, C. kruseii, C. parapsilosis, Epidermophyton floccosum, Fulsarium oxysporum, F. proliferatum, Microsporum canis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Scytalidium dimidiatum, S. hyalinum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes , and  T. rubrum ; and  
       (b) an applicator for applying the composition on and under the nail which is infected with the dermatophyte.  
     
     
       6. The kit of  claim 5  wherein the composition contains a combined amount of between 0.01 and 25% by weight of the active ingredients in the topical carrier. 
     
     
       7. The kit of  claim 5  wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, isoamyl acetate, acetone, ethyl acetate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The kit of  claim 6  wherein the eucalyptus oil is from  Eucalyptus citriodora.    
     
     
       9. The kit of  claim 5  wherein the applicator is a stick. 
     
     
       10. The kit of  claim 5  wherein the solvent is an ester of an alcohol.